Fluid-power wheel



Dec. 30, 1930. w, CALDWELL I I 1,787,103

FLUID POWER WHEEL Filed March 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec, 30-, 1930. w. R. CALDWELL FLUID POWER WHEEL Filjed March 19. 1929 2 heetsSheet 2 gwdmto'a WR.U@ ZJn e ZZ Patented Dec. 30, 1930 stares 'FFICE WILLIAM R. CALDWELL, on KnYsER, wnsr VIRGINIA FLUID-POWER XVI-IEEL I Application filed March 19, 1929. Serial No. 348,238.

water or in the air.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a power wheel of an improved type' wherein the fluid propelling blades thereof are positively actuated to open at the proper time for the production of a power stroke of maximum efficiency and to fold to permit the blades to pass through the fluid in which they work on their idling stroke with the least amount of resistance to the movement of the fluid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power device of the above described character which will have a minimum of moving parts and which will therefore require'less frequent attention than devices of a similar nature.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a power wheel of strong and durable construction and designed to operate smoothly and to be inexpensively manufactured and set up.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with 1 the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changedor modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salientfeatures of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view showing the interior mechanism of the power wheel embodying this invention, in side elevation, the casing being in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially upon the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 4.-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the inner face of one of the power blades;

Figure 6 is a detailed view of a modified connection between a blade and eccentric groove.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals'of reference indicate correspending parts throughout the several views, the wheel is shown as having a pair of side bodies or plates 1, which in the present instance are of rectangular formation and which are connected together at the corners by the bars 2. a a

In the present case the structure is shown as open, the side plates or bodies being the only solid portion of the frame but, it is, of course, to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to this particular frame construction for it is obvious that other forms may be employed without'sacrificing any of the elficiency of-the structure.

Formed in or upon the opposedfaces of the side plates 1 are transversely aligned annular. grooves 3 and formed through the plates 1 are the aligned bearings l which are arranged eccentrically of the annular grooves 3 thus forming eccentric guides for certain blade block members, hereinafter described in detail. i

A shaft 5 connects-the plates 1 and has its ends mounted in the bearings 4 and mounted upon this shaft to rotate therewith is a hub body 6 from each end' of which there eextends a plurality of radially directed arms '7, in the present instance two being shown.

Each of the arms? has pivotally attached thereto one end of a link 8, each of these links being secured to a reinforcing side member 9 of an arcuate blade 10 which blade connects a pair of linksaligned longitudinally of the hub. The blade 10 thus overlies the hub and the links 8 are connected to the reinforcing bars 9 thereof, adjacent one end edge of the blade, which end edge is indicated by the numeral 11 and will hereinafter be referred to as the rear edge.

Extending across the rear edge of each blade-10 is a strengthening rib 12, each end of which has projecting therefrom. a pin 13 which pivotally'engages in. one face of an eccentric block 14 mounted to travel in the adjacent eccentric recess-or groove.

Mounted upon'one end of a shaft 5 is a pulley 15, or a similarbody designed to facilitate the connection with the wheel of a driving chain or belt operated by a suitable power device such as an electric motor or the like.

In Figure 6 there is shown a slight modification of thestructure shown in Figures 1 to 5, the modification relating to the method of operating the blades 10. In this modified construction the blade 16 has mounted upon the supporting pin 17 which extends from each end of the reinforcing bar 18 extending across the rear edge of the blade a roller 19 which rides in the eccentric groove 20. Under some conditions the replacement of the eccentric block 1% with a roller of this character might be found advantageousj From the foregoing description it will be readily seenthat when the power wheel described is set up for use in a liquid or in the air and necessary power applied to the pulley 15 to rotate th-ewheel in a clock-wise direction the blades will be caused to open or to have their free edges swungout from the drum through a portion of their revolution so that the greatest possible amount of'thrust will be imparted thereby to thefluid in which the wheel is operating and during another portion of the period of their revolution each will be folded or have its free edge drawn inwardly toward the hub so that it may pass through the fluid with the least possible amount of friction or resistance.

Upon referring'to Figure 1 it will be readily seen that with a wheel of this character,

when it is being rotated in the manner deedge of each blade for pivotally connecting the same to an arm, said means comprising an inwardly extending link attached to the blade adjacent the center thereof, a reinforcing rib extending transversely of the rear edge of each blade, means for reinforcing each end edge of the blade, a block pivotally'attached to each end of each reinforcing rib, and an-annular guide mounted on the opposite end portions of the frame arranged eccentrically of the pivotalcenter of and at each end of the hub and continuously controlling the adjacent'blocks.

2. A power wheel comprising a frame, a hub body rotatably mounted in the frame and carrying at each end radially directed arms, arcuate blade members each extending longitudinally of the hub, means for pivotally mounting said hub members intermediate the longitudinal edges thereof on said arms, a reinforcing rib extending transversely ofthe blade, eccentrically disposed guide means mounted on said frame, a guide block loosely engaging said guide means, and means connecting the rear end of each of said'blades to said guide block whereby to rock said blades upon rotation thereof within the frame.

In testimony whereof Ihereunto aflix my WILLIAM R. CALDVELL.

signature.

scribed, the inner-face of each blade will act through a portion of its rotary movement against the fluid in which the wheel is positioned and through another portion ofits movement the back face thereof will act to impel the fluid in the same manner duerto the fact that the blade is hingedly secured adjacent the center thereof to the radial arms 7. Thus, a doubleimpelling action will be had from each blade during each'revolution which it makes.

While in the present case there has been illustrated and described a power wheel employing only two blades, it is, of course, ap-

parent that four, six or any other number of' longitudinally of the hub, means at eachend 

